PrecisionHawk, Verizon, Harris and DigitalGlobe are making us rethink our squad goals

PrecisionHawk, Verizon, Harris, and DigitalGlobe have recently announced that the initial testing of high-performance airspace services for consumer and enterprise drones is now complete. The industry leaders have integrated their technologies, Verizon's LTE network, Harris' ADS-B and aircraft surveillance network, DigitalGlobe's Geospatial Big Data Platform and PrecisionHawk's LATAS (Low Altitude Traffic and Airspace Safety) platform, to serve as a pathway for safe drone integration. What’s making us even more hopeful about the assessment of this ecosystem is that it’s currently taking place through the FAA Pathfinder program and the NASA UTM project. Remember the time when George Clooney, Brad Pitt, Julia Roberts and Matt Damon came together on the silver screen for Ocean’s Eleven? This is like that but a lot more cooler.

Say hello to LATAS! The innovative new platform efficiently connects airspace management technologies, such as sense and avoids, geofencing and aircraft tracking, in one little package for commercial and recreational drone operators as well as regulators and air traffic controllers. By bringing the above-mentioned technologies together on a common platform, LATAS is demonstrating successful and safe methods for UAS integration in urban and rural environments. “In the technology world we reward innovation and speed, but the FAA rewards safety. LATAS is a viable solution to reward both sides, giving manned and unmanned aircraft operators a way to know where UAVs are before they become a safety concern,” said Tyler Collins, Director of LATAS. Also see the video: How does LATAS work.

Watch the video demo of LATAS testing with NASA

PrecisionHawk’s LATAS system will use DigitalGlobe’s Geospatial Big Data (GBD) Platform so that drones can actively identify and avoid obstructions such as buildings, cable or tree lines based on highly accurate and current information about the world around them. Here’s our takeaway! Technology providers have been working with drone manufacturers to implement safety measures for the products that are out there. Developing a solution that helps drones identify obstacles and safely navigate the airspace might just be a step in the right direction. More and more people are flying drones these days, might as well have a solid provision for their safety.

A family guy who loves food and anything green. Give her a bottle of red and some John Mayer and you've got yourself a happy camper. When she's not working, she's busy putting her thoughts on paper and browsing through her Instagram #sorrynotsorry